Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-07

they have in the past generally ruled as
/ the favorites of the beef-raiser. They do
well in North and Northwest Texas, but
not so well in the southwest, where they
are exposed to more sun and a longer
heated term. They have thinner hides
than most OF the o her breeds and sre
consequently more susceptible to the mos
quitoes and ticks. They have not
PROVED AS GOOD "RUsrLERsu
as some others, and, while we think them
well suited to the northern portion of our
state, they have not in Southwest Texas
proved as good as other breeds. They be-
come sluggish and lazy and seek too much
the ease and shades, as IS the habit of
animals reared IN a northern cline They
are not vigorous, but certainly for size
and shape and all that pertains TO the i'm
provement of our beef, they are uGexcep-
tionable.
To what grade our stock should be i'm
proved depends upon the section of the
state in which it is reared, al q the quail
ity and quantity of feed furnished them
from birth till maturity
1t has long been claimed that our native
cattle are hardy race, and surpass all
others in aGsptability to our climate, and
it must be admitted that for many wears
they have held sway and stood the brunt
remarkably well, but instead of becoming
better and better, as they should have
done under proper breeding and handling,
they have become somewhat
EFFETE AND WORN OUT
with in5reeding and want of care and
food.
Another objection is the age to which
our natives have to be kept before they
attain maturity. On the principle that
we have lean dog for long race, they
would be entitled To the premium, but if
they eat less than an imGroved animal OF
the same age, they tread down feed
enough going to and from water to make
up the difference. If, however, the i'm
proved animal is provided with the same
pasturage, with convenient and healthful
water, he will mature one or two years
younger and sell in market for from % to
50 per cent more than the native; there
fore, the vital Importance of improving
our native stock with some one of the
breeds mentioned, which is most suitable
to all the surroundings, must be apparent
to all.
How shall this be done? By the use of
half or three-quarter bred males with our
native COWS, through series of breedings
or by the direct cross from the herd-book
male upon the Texas cows. We are of
opinion that the latter method is best,
but that both methods sre good. How
ever we may differ as to the methods or
the kinds of cattle best suited to our cline
and feed, we should all commence and
continue the improvement of our stock or
abandon the business to some parties VINO
will do so.
Since to own or control and fence our
pasturage has become necessity, the
value of natives in the markets Will not
justify the Investment necessary to con-
duct our business in safety.
Stock raising and beef producing must
in the future be looked upon as q legiti-
mate business, and no longer as scheme.
View it from whatever standpoint you
may, it must be recognized in the future
as a standard, legitimate business, which
properly managed will produce fair pro-
! fit, and not as a BONANZA adventure in
which fortune may be made by the fortu-
nate adventurer. Improvement of our
stock, improvement of our water supply,
and the quantity and quality of our feed
must in the future be our monuments of
success.
The cattle now growing into favor, are
the Hereford and the Holstein breeds, and
Herefords have, wherever tried, proven
the best sill purpose cattle. Hardy, vigo
rous and good shape, they cross well upon
our native stock, and have thus far given
! better satisfaction to breeders in all por-
tions of the state than those of any we
have named, aud from information OBJ
tanned we can with confidence recommend
them as the most suitable crosses upon
our native stock. The Holsteins are
growing in favor with those who are in
Producing them. Your committee can not
too strongly urge upon this convention the
improvement OF their herds. A common
native animal eats the same grass as an
improved one, and the difference in price
in favor of an improved steer is from So
| to SIS. This speaks for Itself in thunder
tones not to be misunderstood, and those
who do rot improve their stock and keep
pace with the necessities of the times
will, as the cars of progress pass along,
be sid-tracked and left to perish by the
wayside.